Guided out the Door

It’s that time of year where everyone is holly, jolly and watching Macaulay…

December is the month of spending quality time with others and it’s often with people we haven’t seen since last year.

I think this is largely because no one shows up to someone’s house unannounced anymore. There’s no longer unexpected friendly visits for coffee or a home cooked meal. Just Amazon workers and cold Skip the Dishes orders.

Except a couple years ago, Santa Claus did surprise my nieces before Christmas at their front door (no I am not kidding).

If I saw Santa on my Ring doorbell, that is one knock I would answer.

However, these days people are so busy and take on so much that get togethers not only need to be planned far in advance, but so does every detail. Who is bringing what to eat? What is everyone wearing? What is the earliest I can leave?

If, and that’s a big if, something is about to occur last minute, a quick courtesy text is sent; never a phone call. Those are unanswered just as much as an unexpected doorbell ring.

Personally, I don’t enjoy unexpected guests, but I have been one…

In A Very Unwelcome Welcome, I was not very welcoming. Today, I was not welcome. (say that 10 times fast).

My co-recreation therapist, Charlotte, and I have commendable communication at work. Somedays too much communication. Let’s just say, we get a lot more work done when the other one is away. 

We are aware when the other is in a meeting, facilitating a program and unfortunately for me, when she is going to the washroom. 

Every week Charlotte implements a guided imagery program where residents can remain in their rooms with wireless headphones and she guides the narrative through a microphone in her office. 

Imagine, Matthew McConaughey’s voice on the Calm app, except higher and with less ‘alrights’.

This program has been ongoing for quite some time now; on the same day, at the same time each week.

One Thursday morning, I was bouncing across the floors and needed a 5 minute breather (maybe 20 minutes), so I decided to pop my head into her office. 

Pop is what the weasel does. I more so burst.

Fumbling my lanyard before matching the key to the door knob, I aggressively swung the door open to bang into the wall declaring, “okay, so listen to this.”  

I found her sitting behind her desk, wearing a headset, looking flabbergasted (that’s an understatement). 

She was describing a waterfall and I was the water crashing at the bottom. 

I very quietly apologized for the disturbance and tip-toed out of the office. 

Thankfully, she doesn’t treat her unwanted guests like Kevin McCallister…